Gov't denies claims UK Home Secretary opens door to Egyptian women's migration

CAIRO - 27 July 2018: The Cabinet's Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) dismissed unsubstantiated claims attributed to the UK Home Secretary that have recently spread on social media networks on opening the door to migration for Egyptian women, who were subjected to gender-based violence.

In its report, the center said that it had contacts with the Interior Ministry, which refuted the matter as "bare of truth".

The Interior Ministry made it clear that Britain did not issue any documents on this score, the report added.

On July 19, the UK embassy in Cairo issued a clarification of UK Asylum policy to deny unfounded claims that have recently spread on social networks on this score.

"We’re aware of rumors on social media that the UK has a policy in place specific to women’s migration. This appears to be based on the UK’s Asylum guidance regarding gender-based violence," the embassy said in its statement.

"In line with the UK’s obligations under 1951 Refugee Convention, and the European Convention on Human Rights, the UK has an asylum policy designed to ensure that individuals who face persecution or serious harm in their countries are offered protection and not expected to return to their country," it added.

"All asylum claims, including claims based on a fear of gender-based harm, are carefully considered on their individual merits by assessing evidence provided by the individual against relevant country information," it said.

"There is no provision in the Immigration Rules for someone to seek asylum from abroad and we will only consider asylum claims lodged in the UK. Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach," it said.

"It is important to draw a distinction between migration and asylum, which is an international legal obligation designed to protect the most vulnerable from serious harm," it said.